Connecting device



Aug. 30, 1932. w. o. PROUTY CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Feb. 10. 1930 INVENTOR WV' 0 1 af BY /xs y ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE WILLIS 0. PROUTY, OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO METLOX CORPO- RATION, LTD., OF MANHATTAN BEACH, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA CONNECTING DEvIcE Application filed February 10, 1980. Serial No. &27,227.

This invention relates to a device for connecting in series, sections of luminous tubings, such as are in common use for advertis- 'in purposes and for signs.

uminous tube signs are now quite extensively used. These usually employ a gaseous filling of a few millimeters of pressure, forming a column of gas across which a potential difierence is impressed to cause it to conduct current and thereby to luminesce. The potential diflerences employed are quite high, but are readily available by suitable alternating currenttransforming apparatus.

Tubes of this character are bent to appropriate forms to form letters or borders, and are supported in any appropriate manner, as on a box or on a base. For practical conside'ations, it is advisable to keep the tube lengths down to about five or six feet; and if the design requires a longer continuous luminous line, to connect these lengths in series.- This limitation of practical tube length is imposed by the impracticability of pumping long tubes, as well as of manipulation by the glass blower. Also, the longer the tube, the greater the danger of breakage.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a connector of simple and effective v design, fonplacing such luminous tube sectons in series.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a connector which will make it possible readily to place the ends of the tube sections so close together that a continuous light efiect is obtained when the tube is energized.

It is another object of my invention to pro vide a connector for luminous tube sections that obviates the necessity of any reverse bends at the tube ends.

It is another object of my invention to provide a connector of this type that can effectively insulate the tubes from the supports upon .which the con'nectors are fastened.

My invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment of my invention. For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the present specification. I shall now proceed to describe this form in detail, which 4 illustrates the general principles of my in- Vention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a connector embodying my invention and shown in use in a sign;

F ig. 2 is a transverse section of the connector and its associated parts; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

In general, the connector includes a hollow body 11 of insulating material, such as porcelain or other cera'nic. This body has an open top and a closed bottom, which can rest on a supporting surface 12 as of a sign structure. Ears 13 extending from the sides of the body 11 can be used for fastening it to the support 12 as by bolts or screws 14.

Inside of the body 11 there is a metal connector 15 of such springy sheet material as 'phosphor bronze. It is generally U-shaped,

having a width just a trifle larger than the width of the body 11, so that it snaps into the osition of F ig. 2 and is retained therein by riction. Recesses 16 running longitudinally at the bottom of the body accommodates the bottom edges of the connector 15.

The legs of the connector are slotted to form a series of resilient fingers 17 that are bent back on themselves, facing each other.

These fingers 17 can resiliently clasp the tube ends 18, 19, which are inserted between the fingers. These ends are at right angles to the main portions 20, 21 of the luminous tubes, the connector 15 serving to connect these portions in series. These ends can have metallic cap portions to provide the contact to the tube interior. The ends 18, 19 can be placed close together in body 11, sa that there is no appreciable interruption in the luminosity of the border formed by the tubes such as 20, 21 that are placed end to end in the series.

It is apparent that the live current carrythe bent back portions' ing perts of the tubes and of the connector are well insulated from structure 12, due to the use of the ceramic body 11.

The resilient fingers 17 serve their purpose very efl'ectively due to their reentrant form. They readily accommodate themselves to the tube ends, so as to connect them in series, even if there should be some slight verietion in the tube diameters.

I claim: V In a device for connecting luminous tubes in series, e holiow body, a U-shaped connector member, the sides of the U being held by friction 'against the inside surface of the body, the ends of the U being siotted and extended reversely to form opposed spring fingers to grasp the luminous tube ends inserted into the body, one portion of the opposed spring fingers being adapted to receive one tube, another portion being adapted to receive another tube, and both portions being connected by a common conducting .edinm.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIS 0. PROUTY 

